Dog survives bear's attack

SAGLE — Given our close proximity to the great outdoors, it’s no surprise that domesticated pets occasionally mix it up with wild animals, but it’s truly rare for a dog to tangle with a black bear and live to bark again.

That’s what happened last week, when a 10-year old Labrador retriever apparently startled a bear in the Gold Mountain area of Sagle and walked away with what a local veterinarian believes is a significant bite wound.

The dog’s owners, who wish to remain anonymous, brought the bleeding pouch to Sagle’s Fry Creek Animal Clinic last week after witnessing a bear chase the dog through the woods near their home, according to the clinic’s general manager, Jerry Higgins.

When veterinarian Marvelee Higgins put the dog under anesthesia to clean what she originally believed were claw marks, she saw something a bit more serious.

“At first, I thought the bear hit him with a swipe in the rib cage,” she said. “But my examination revealed four puncture wounds, two facing each other ten inches apart. I believe he suffered a bite wound.”

Matt Haag of Idaho Fish and Game said bears will generally run when they see dogs and only attack when they feel threatened or cornered.

“Bears pretty much treat dogs like they would any other wildlife, like a coyote or a wolf,” he said. “They’re going to react to it the same way and feel pretty threatened.”

Despite its ordeal, the dog is doing well and Dr. Higgins expects a full recovery.